The Hillman Imp was a small economy car that the Rootes Group launched on 3 May 1963 and that Chrysler Europe kept in production until March 1976. It was designed by Michael Parkes, later a Formula One driver, and Tim Fry, and built at the purpose-made Linwood plant in Scotland. It was the first British mass-produced car with an aluminium engine block and cylinder head, an 875 cc rear engine derived from a Coventry Climax design. Variations included an estate car called the Husky, a van and a coupe, and the Rally Imp with a 998 cc engine won the 1965 Tulip Rally outright. The car was ahead of its time but suffered reliability problems that damaged its reputation and helped lead to the Chrysler takeover of Rootes in 1967. Just under half a million were sold over thirteen years.
Facts
Engine Class Engine875 cc aluminium engine 1 Connections
Exemplifies
Source Hillman Imp (Wikipedia)
Of Make
Source Hillman Imp (Wikipedia)
Sources
1. Hillman Imp (Wikipedia)
Lead
The Hillman Imp is a small economy car that was made by the Rootes Group and its successor Chrysler Europe from 1963 until 1976.
Models, Mark I
The Mark I was introduced as a 2-door saloon, which appeared in two models; the Basic and De Luxe.
Lead, variations
As well as the Hillman marque, there was a series of variations, including an estate car (the Husky), a van and a coupé.
Development, engine sizes
resulted in only the 875 cc engine being standardized
Lead, country of origin
It was manufactured at the purpose-built Linwood plant in Scotland.
Infobox: engine
875 cc, 998 cc straight-4 overhead camshaft water-cooled aluminium block
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